David “Bud” Thalenfeld, founder and ceo of Trion Industries Inc. (Wilkes- Barre, Pa.) passed away on May 19. Thalenfeld’s early business career in retail included assignments with chains in New York and the operation of several of his own stores there. In 1965, along with three friends, he founded Trion Industries Inc. in Brooklyn, N.Y., to manufacture his own fixture concepts, which were adopted by such retail chains as Woolworths. Thalenfeld eventually became sole owner and moved Trion to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in 1982. His son John now runs the company.

Thalenfeld was a board member and treasurer of POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International) and a founding member of WiFAB (The Wire Fabricators Manufacturers Association), which evolved into the present day PDMF Permanent Display Manufacturers Forum. He was inducted into the POPAI Hall of Fame and held over 88 patents for display innovations.

Born in Miner's Mills, Pa., he was the son of the late Isadore and Mollie Feurman Thalenfeld. He graduated from Meyers High School in 1937, and later attended New School University in New York. During the Second World War, Thalenfeld served with the U.S. Army Air Corps 11th Bomb Squadron in China.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian, residing in Naples; son, John, of Bear Creek; grandchildren Adam and Rebecca; and sisters Harriett Grey, Kingston, Pa. and Freda Popsky, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.